Brasil: Week 59 - Homewardbound

So, this week did not go as I thought it would..... I had to stay inside all week taking care of my extremely sick companion. She got sick with dengue and thankfully is a lot better now.

To honor my last email as a missionary, I wrote down 15 things that I learned during my mission (of course I have more than just eighteen but I narrowed it down to 15.)

1. I learned how to feel Gods love that He has for ALL of his children

2. not to be afraid of anything 

3. what faith really means and how it can change lives

4. how to really pray

5. real patience

6. how to be confident in myself

7. how to really study the scriptures

8. trust in the Lord in ALL things

9. importance and sacredness and enabling power of the sacrament

10. the meaning of charity

11. real happiness

12. how the gospel of Jesus Christ blesses lives

13. power of the priesthood

14. how God speaks to me

15. how to be the person that Gods knows i can be

Te amo! 

Sister Keeler

Brasil: Week 58 - Last Week

So, this week is officially my last full week working as a missionary. Weird, huh? I cant believe its come to an end! I feel like I have been here for ages but at the same time I feel like its only been a couple weeks. Last Tuesday I had my last multizona where I gave my last testimony. And, surprisingly, I didnt cry! I think it was either 1, because I tried REALLY hard not to cry or 2. it doesnt even feel like I am leaving. wow. My body is seriously starting to break down. I have to walk slow sometimes because I am just too tired. I think thats what I get for going turbo speed my whole mission :) 

Sorry, this is a really short email. We had less time on the internet this week because we took a trip to Poços! But Have a great week and keep on keeping on!!

Te amo! Saudades!

Sister Keeler

Brasil: Week 57 - I've Changed

The other day we visited this less active that has started to take the JW lessons and she was

talking nonspot about things that did not make sense and about how she is so confused with all of this contrary doctrine in her head. I listened.....and listened... and as i was listening i was praying, asking heavenly father to help me know what to say. At that exact moment the spirit told me exactly what i needed to do and i did it. I did something that I would never even think of doing before my mission.

I cut her off, told her to go get her book of mormon, marked 5 chapters that she needed to read and told her with an extremely firm voice in the clearest way possible the basics of the gospel. God is our Heavenly Father. He has a son, Jesus Crist, who is our Savior. All other doctrine is wrong etc. the whole time she didnt even blink..... neither did my companion! ha. I ended the lesson and said a kneeling prayer. and then we left. Afterwards my companion was like, wow. that was incredible. you are a really good missionary. I laughed and then looked at her and said, that wasnt me. that was completely the spirit. I would never have done something so bold in my entire life. 

That is when I relized that I have changed. I have truly changed who I am as a person. I am not the same person that I was before I came to Brasil. I am different. A lot more confident. Not scared of doing anything. and definitely, a lot more in tune with the spirit. little by little my will has become closer to Heavenly Fathers will and because of this I am a little closer to the person He needs and knows I can be. 

One of the things that I wanted to have happen on my mission was to change and to notice the change and to also know how i can change after my missoin. I have definitely changed and finally, I know exactly how I can continue changing which is the most important part.

I love the mission but I know now, that I am ready to come home. I have done what He needed me to do, now He has other plans for me. 

até logo! 

Sister Keeler

Brasil: Week 56 - Conference

So, I found out Monday night (9pm) that I would be transfered (the next day) to Sao Joao Da Boa Vista!!!! I have already passed through this city a couple times because it is really close to where I served in Poços de Caldas and honestly I never found the Boa Vista.....until YESTERDAY!!!!!!!!!! On the otherside of the city there is this beautiful view of mountains!!!! So, I take back when I said that this city didnt have a view:)

My new and last companion is Sister Pontelli from Argentina!!!! She is really cool and she speaks english! Which I didnt know until i noticed that she says english frases sometimes, but really quietly. 

Since it took 2 days to get here and we also had General conference we didnt have a lot of time to work in our area this week but we did have a really cool experience! I looked through some of the old investigators and picked a few names and we went to the first one and had an amazing lesson! She said that just the day before she had been thinking of the missionaries and why the never came back and then we came!!!! woohoo!!! She bore her testimony of how she knows that the church is true and she loves going to church because she feels so good. Then I asked her what she should do now. and she was like, I dont know! Then I invited her to be baptize and she accepted! 

I absolutely LOVED conference! I had all of my questions answered! Even ones that I didnt even know I had! I watched the whole thing in Portuguese and I felt SO proud that I understood everything and didnt fall asleep! 

I wanted to know what was your favorite part of conference?

Have a great week!

P.S. Dont send any letters because they wont get here in time!

Sister Keeler

Brasil: Week 55 - Keeler

So, my District Leader found out why a ton of my companions have gotten sick.... because my last name is Keeler. ha.....ha.... For those of you that arent brasilian, when you say Keeler and Killer it sounds the same to non-english speakers. THerefore, my nickname is Sister Serial Killer. Yes, that is what I call a PERFECT nickname for a representative of Jesus Christ :)

This Sunday we had the "Sunday that no one missed". and we challenged everyone to bring a friend, member or nonmember (sadly, a lot of people werent there....) But, we had 88 people! I have been here for 6 months and that is the first time EVER that we have had that many people in church! I wanted to cry because I was so happy! This lady has 3 sons (that are all married with children) that havent been to church in YEARS and they came yesterday! It was a miracle!!

We had the opportunity to watch the General womens conference this weekend and it was AMAZING!! My favorite part was the video where they sang "The Family is of God"

 

Our Father has a family. It’s me!

It’s you, all others too: we are His children.

He sent each one of us to earth, through birth,

To live and learn here in fam’lies.

2. A father’s place is to preside, provide,

To love and teach the gospel to his children.

A father leads in fam’ly prayer to share

Their love for Father in Heaven.

3. A mother’s purpose is to care, prepare,

To nurture and to strengthen all her children.

She teaches children to obey, to pray,

To love and serve in the fam’ly.

4. I’ll love and serve my family and be

A good example to each fam’ly member.

And when I am a mom or dad, so glad,

I’ll help my fam’ly remember:

[Chorus]

God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be—

This is how He shares His love, for the fam’ly is of God. 

I absolutely LOVE this song!!!!!! The words are so beautiful and it makes me cry everytime I hear it because I am reminded of the wonderful family that God gave to me. Being away from my family for a year and a half here in Brasil has made me value my family more than ever. I am so greatful for them. I am so greatful for the support they give me, the prayers, the love, but most importantly, helping me become the daughter of God that He wants me to be. I would not be the person I am today with out my family (especially my Parents) I love you sooooo much :)

For those of you that dont know or forgot, this week is GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!! ITS THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEARRRRRR!!!!!!! You NEED to watch it because the Prophet is going to speak to the whole world! how can you miss that!!!!

I love you all and I hope you have a great week!!!! 

P.S. For those of you keeping track. Today is transfer day but we wont find out what happens until tonight.....at 8:30. I am dying here!!!!!! #lasttransfer

P.S DO NOT SEND LETTERS! THEY WILL NOT GET HERE IN TIME!

P.S. For the first time ever, our mission baptized 100 people this month!!!!!! 100 almas à Cristo!

 

Sister Keeler